Review of General Conference talks of President Dallin H. Oaks,
April 1995 through October 1999
-
-
- April 1995 — Apostasy and Restoration
- We would be wiser if we could restore the knowledge of some important tings that have been distorted, ignored, or forgotten. This applies to religious knowledge. It explains the need for the gospel restoration we proclaim.
- We must begin with the truth about God and our relationship with Him.
- God the Father is not just a spirit but is a glorified person with a tangible body, as is his resurrected Son, Jesus Christ.
- There are three separate members of the Godhead, and all three were manifested at the baptism of Jesus.
- Jesus declared that he was in the express image of his Father in Heaven and he also taught his followers to be one as he and his Father were one, and that he was a Messiah who would die on a cross and later appear to his followers as a resurrected being with flesh and bones.
- The Nicene Creed erased the idea of a separate being of Father and Son by defining God the Son as being of one substance with the Father.
- Due to a synthesis of Greek philosophy and Christian doctrine, the orthodox Christians of that day lost the fulness of truth about the nature of God and the Godhead.
- The personal God of the New Testament was replaced by the abstract, incomprehensible deity defined by compromise with the speculative principles of Greek philosophy.
- The divine declaration made by Jesus during the First Vision to Joseph Smith was a condemnation of the creeds of the day, NOT of the faithful seekers who believed in them.
- We do not claim sufficient spiritual maturity to fully comprehend God or his nature, nor do we equate our imperfect mortal bodies to his immortal, glorified being.
- The Bible describes mortals as “the children of God” and as “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” It also declares that “we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” It tells us that we will be “like him” when He shall appear again. We take these teachings literally.
- We proclaim that we will eventually be assigned to a kingdom of glory for which our obedience has qualified us. The Apostle Paul described these kingdoms. The following describes the highest kingdom of glory: “…whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God.”
- Eternal life is not a mysterious union with an incomprehensible spirit-god. Eternal life is family life with a loving Father in Heaven and with our progenitors and our posterity.
- The purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is to help all of the children of God understand their potential and achieve their highest destiny. Our highest aspiration is to be like our heavenly parents.
- It is the reality of these glorious possibilities that causes us to proclaim our message of restored Christianity to all people, even to good practicing Christians with other beliefs.
- October 1995 — Powerful Ideas
- A funeral service is a time to speak of powerful ideas, such as the purpose of life.
- We will be judged by every idle word that we speak (Matthew 12:36).
- We should cease from light speeches, light-mindedness, and we should cast away idle thoughts and excess of laughter.
- Some knowledge is more important than others. This includes spiritual knowledge.
- Young people should have the powerful thought and idea that they are children of God.
- How different our world would be if brotherly and sisterly love and unselfish assistance could transcend all boundaries of nations and creeds.
- The eternal truth that our Heavenly Father loves all His children is an immensely powerful idea.
- Another powerful idea is that mortal life has a purpose and that mortal death is not the end but only a transition for us.
- The work of the Church of Jesus Christ is to bring to pass the eternal life of mankind.
- A powerful idea with immediate practical application is the reality that we can pray to our Heavenly Father and He will hear our prayers and help us.
- The most powerful ideas of Christian thought and faith are the resurrection and the atonement of Jesus Christ.
- Our model and our first priority is Jesus — we must testify of Him.
- Jesus always builds us up and never tears us down.
- Do the purposes and actions portrayed in our chosen entertainment build up or tear down the children of God? There is a trend to displace what builds up and dignifies the children of God with portrayals and performances that are depressing, demeaning, and destructive.
- “Never take no cutoffs and hurry along as fast as you can.” A survivor of the Donner party.
- ” I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ.”
- April 1996 — Joseph, the Man and the Prophet
- Joseph Smith was a man of the frontier, young, emotional, dynamic, and so loved and approachable by his people that they often called him ‘Brother Joseph’.
- Overarching his ministry were his comparative youth, his superficial formal education, and his incredibly rapid acquisition of knowledge and maturity.
- He had more than his share of mortal afflictions. He was attacked physically on many occasions.
- The Lord told him, “In temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling.” (Doctrine and Covenants 24:9)
- He stated that he had never committed great or malignant sins since it was not in his disposition to commit such.
- The 116 manuscript pages were lost because Joseph yielded to entreaties and loaned them to Martin Harris. The Lord said to him, “How oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.” (Doctrine and Covenants 3:6).
- The Lord told Joseph to repent or he would be stripped of his prophetic role. Later commandments commanded him to repent and walk more uprightly. He was rebuked for not keeping the commandments.
- Joseph had a cheery temperament. He delighted in the society of his friends.
- Joseph was resolute in doing his duty. He took seriously his calling and responsibilities.
- He was strong physically. At one time he wrestled the ‘bully of Ramus’ and threw him to the ground.
- He said, “Although I was called of my Heavenly Father to lay the foundation of this great work and kingdom in this dispensation, and testify of His revealed will to Israel, I am subject to like passions as other men…”
- In 1852, a legal proceeding found no fraud or other moral impropriety by the Prophet.
- Joseph once said that he would rather have a six-shooter than all the lawyers in Illinois.
- His private and public character was impeachable, and he lived an died as a man of God.
- October 1996 — Always Have His Spirit
- I have chosen to speak about the relationship between our partaking of the sacrament and our enjoying the blessings available from the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- ‘Thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day…” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:9)
- We partake of the bread in remembrance of the Savior’s body, and by so doing we witness to God that we are willing to take upon ourselves the name of His Son, and to remember Him, and to keep his commandments.
- Wilford Woodruff called the gift of the Holy Ghost the greatest gift we can receive in mortality.
- The Holy Ghost is referred to as the Comforter that dwells within us. The Comforter teaches us all things and brings all things to our remembrance. He guides us into all truth and reveals things yet to come.
- The Holy Ghost testifies of the Son. The Bible teaches that the Savior and His servants will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
- The Holy Ghost bears record of the Father and the Son, enlightens our minds, fills us with joy, helps us know the truth of all things, reveals the mysteries of God unto us, shows us all things that are expedient.
- The Holy Ghost shows us what we should do. We can be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, and gives us the opportunity to stand spotless before God at the last day.
- The Light of Christ, or the Spirit of Christ, gives light to every man and woman that comes into the earth. This light is in all things. This light allows all know good from evil.
- The manifestation of the Holy Ghost is more focused. This manifestation is given to sincere seekers regarding the Lord and His gospel. The Holy Ghost’s influence leads seekers to God and His truths.
- Cornelius received the convincing power of the Holy Ghost before he was baptized, but he received the gift of the Holy Ghost after he was baptized.
- As members of the Church we must never take for granted the companionship of the Holy Spirit.
- President Kimball taught that the Holy Ghost comes a little at a time as we merit it. By righteousness, we gradually receive the Holy Ghost is great measure.
- The Lord has stated that the mysteries of His kingdom are only seen and understood by the power of the Holy Ghost.
- The Holy Spirit is bestowed upon those who love the Lord and purify themselves before Him.
- By partaking of the sacrament, we renew the effect of our baptism. When we desire a remission of our sins through the Atonement, we are commanded to repent and come to Christ with a broken heart and contrite spirit.
- Elder Oaks pled with all to weekly partake of the sacrament with a broken heart and contrite spirit and a repentant attitude.
- April 1997 — Bishop, Help!
- In a sacrament meeting many years ago, an exasperated father put his little disruptive boy over his shoulder and walked determinedly out of the chapel. As the father reached the door to leave the chapel, the little boy reached out his arms toward the pulpit and cried out, “Bishop, Help!”
- Bishops oversee the programs and activities of the young men and young women in the ward. As the presiding High Priest, the bishop gives direction to all quorums, auxiliaries, activities, and programs in the ward.
- The bishopric is also responsible for monitoring the Church-service time of all ward members. They are also responsible for all financial matters in the ward.
- The bishop is responsible for holding worthiness interviews and to authorize temple attendance and the holding of positions in the ward. The bishop oversees disciplinary councils
- The bishop needs to be a skilled delegator, or he will be crushed under burdens of his office.
- May God bless our bishops and branch presidents and their counselors.
- Bishops are not specialists — the oversee both old and young, married and single, rich and poor, active and less active. All considerations transcend age, marital status, financial situation, etc.
- The Lord has said that the voice of his servants is His voice, and their hands are His hands. Thus the duty of a leader is a solemn responsibility.
- Bishop should serve with persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, and love unfeigned.
- Members of wards should “Help the Bishop”. Bishops struggle with the heavy duties of their responsibilities and callings. Be sensitive to that.
- Other ward leaders can lighten the load of the bishop by fully and completely fulfilling the responsibilities of their callings.
- Ministering brothers and sisters should be and are the arms and hands of the bishop.
- We should not occupy the bishop’s time with matters that others can handle.
- The offices of bishop and branch president aer sacred in this Church. The men who hold these offices are respected by the Lord and inspired by His Spirit.
- October 1997 –
- April 1999 — The Witness, Martin Harris
- Witnesses and witnessing are vital in God’s plan for the salvation of His children.
- Scriptures state that ‘…in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established…” (2 Corinthians 13:1)
- The Bible witnesses of the Savior by prophecies of His coming, by accounts of His ministry, and the testimonies of his disciples.
- In addition to the Prophet’s testimony of the Book of Mormon, the Lord provided the testimony of three of His servants, whom He would call and ordain, and unto whom He would show the plates.
- These three witnesses testified that they had seen the plates which contained the record and the engravings upon the plates.
- The Witnesses said, “We declare with words of soberness, that an angel of God came down from heaven, and he brought and laid before our eyes … the plates…”
- The solemn written testimony of the three witnesses… is entitled to great weight. Their testimony stands forth in ‘great strength’.
- Not one of the three witnesses deviated from is published testimony.
- They were good and honest men who told what they saw.
- Martin Harris was described as ‘strictly upright in his business dealings’.
- When some of the manuscript pages were lost, Joseph and Martin were forgiven and the work progressed with other scribes.
- Martin Harris financed the publication of the Book of Mormon. He was commanded to ‘be an example unto the church, in laying his moneys before the bishop of the church…’
- Martin and his brother Emer were missionary companions, and baptized over 100 people.
- Martin marched with the men of Zions’ Camp, marching 900 miles to Missouri to relieve the oppressed saints.
- He was appointed to help search out the original Twelve apostles, a large responsibility.
- Although he left the Church, he was rebaptized in 1842.
- One of his final testimonies was, “It is not a mere belief, but is a matter of knowledge. I saw the plates and the inscriptions thereon. I saw the angel, and he showed them unto me.”
- What do we learn from the example of Martin Harris? 1) Witnesses are important, and the testimony of the Three Witnesses regarding the Book of Mormon is impressive and reliable. 2) Happiness and spiritual progress lie in following the leaders of the Church 3) There is hope for each of us, even if we have sinned.
- October 1999 —
- April 1995 — Apostasy and Restoration
-
Click here to return to the President Oaks talk index